Squirrels are resourceful animals that often seek out warm, safe spaces to build their nests, and your attic offers everything they need. With its protection from predators and harsh weather, along with ample space to raise their young, attics in urban areas like Toronto have become an attractive option for these small animals. Their nesting behaviour, combined with their diet, which includes nuts, seeds, fruits, and even bird eggs, drives them to explore and settle in human structures. 

Understanding what squirrels eat can provide insight into why they may be interested in your property, particularly if there are gardens or food sources nearby. If you’re dealing with squirrels taking over your attic, it’s essential to know that Skedaddle’s professional wildlife removal services in Toronto can safely and humanely handle the issue. 

While many homeowners wonder how to get rid of squirrels, trying to solve this on your own can lead to damage or unsafe situations. By addressing the problem quickly and effectively, you can protect your home from further complications caused by these intelligent animals.

Why Squirrels Choose Your Attic  

Squirrels, by nature, are resourceful and adaptable creatures that thrive in urban and suburban environments. They gain entry into attics for reasons that make complete sense from their perspective. Attics offer an ideal combination of shelter, warmth, and safety—attributes that are crucial for squirrels, especially as temperatures drop or during their nesting seasons.  

Squirrels typically seek out sheltered spaces to build nests where they can store food and raise their young. Your attic checks all their boxes. It’s usually quiet, rarely disturbed by humans, and provides protection from predators like birds of prey, coyotes, or domestic pets. Female squirrels, particularly, are drawn to attics because they offer a secure place for giving birth and nursing their babies during mating seasons in spring and late summer.  

One reason squirrels can easily make their way into homes is their remarkable climbing abilities. They often climb walls, trees, and power lines to access roofs, where they can pry open vents, soffits, or even chew through wood or plastic to create entry points. What makes these creatures truly relentless is their physical adaptability. A squirrel can squeeze through openings as small as two inches wide, turning minor vulnerabilities in your home’s structure into full-blown infestations over time. Once squirrels establish themselves in your attic, their presence can quickly cause more damage than you might realize.  

The Damage Caused by Squirrels in Your Attic  

While squirrels may be captivating to watch outdoors, their activity indoors can lead to considerable headaches for homeowners. These animals are constantly chewing—this isn’t merely a bad habit but a necessity. Squirrels’ teeth grow throughout their lives, so they gnaw on various materials to keep them trimmed down. Unfortunately for homeowners, these materials include wooden beams, electrical wiring, and insulation within attics.  

Damaged wiring is not just an inconvenience—it’s a safety hazard. Exposed or frayed wires increase the risk of electrical fires and power outages, which can be both dangerous and costly to repair. Squirrels also shred insulation to construct nests, reducing your home’s energy efficiency and increasing heating or cooling costs. Beyond the structural and electrical damage, they often litter attics with droppings and urine, creating unsanitary conditions that could pose health risks to your household.  

If left unchecked, a squirrel problem can compound exponentially. During mating seasons, females bring an additional complication—babies. The young, while immobile at first, soon grow into active juveniles, adding to the noise, mess, and damage. The longer squirrels remain in your attic, the more extensive and expensive the damage becomes, particularly because these animals are generally active during the day, and their scampering noises can disrupt your peace and sleep.  

How to Get Rid of Squirrels Humanely  

Attempting to remove squirrels from your attic can be a tricky and risky endeavour. We always advise against any DIY methods for dealing with these animals. Without proper training, you could injure the squirrels, harm yourself, or, worse, leave behind an incomplete fix that allows squirrels to return. Humane removal is essential, not only for ethical reasons but also to ensure effectiveness in keeping squirrels out for good.  

At Skedaddle, our process begins with a highly detailed inspection of your home to locate all potential entry points and assess the extent of the problem. Squirrels are incredibly adaptable, often locating even the smallest gaps in your home’s construction to make their way inside. Once we’ve thoroughly inspected your property, we create a tailored removal and exclusion plan that aligns with our humane practices.  

Using specialized tools and techniques, we remove both adult squirrels and any babies by hand to ensure their safety. Baby squirrels are placed in warmed reunion boxes outside the home, where the mother can easily find and relocate them to an alternative nesting site in the neighbourhood. This ensures the entire family is safely removed without causing harm.  

Once removal is complete, securing your home is the next step. Our technicians seal every potential entry point with heavy-gauge steel screening that is durable enough to withstand even the most determined squirrels. This involves addressing gaps in soffits, vents, and fascias, while thoroughly deodorizing these areas to eliminate pheromones that might attract other squirrels in the future.  

What You Can Do to Protect Your Attic  

While Skedaddle provides long-term solutions to squirrel problems, there are several measures you, as a homeowner, can take to reduce the likelihood of squirrels gaining access to your attic.  

• Trim Overhanging Tree Branches: Squirrels are exceptional climbers and frequently use branches as direct pathways to your roof. Keeping branches trimmed to at least six to eight feet away from your roofline can prevent them from gaining easy entry.  
• Inspect Your Roof Regularly: Small gaps, cracked vents, or loose soffits can serve as entry points. Schedule regular inspections to identify and repair weak points.  
• Secure Garbage and Bird Feeders: Squirrels are opportunistic feeders and may use the food in your yard as motivation to get closer to your home. Ensure garbage bins are tightly sealed, and bring bird feeders inside overnight to avoid attracting them.  

Remember, preventing a squirrel problem is far less costly and stressful than dealing with an infestation once it has taken hold.  

Why Choose Skedaddle for Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto?  

When it comes to wildlife removal, experience matters. At Skedaddle, we bring over 30 years of expertise to every job, understanding exactly how squirrels behave and how to address infestations effectively. From our thorough inspections to our humane removal practices and long-term prevention measures, we prioritize both your home’s safety and the well-being of the animals we remove.  

Our hands-on approach ensures that no detail is overlooked. Getting rid of squirrels isn’t just about removing the ones you see—it’s about addressing potential future issues and giving you peace of mind. Plus, with our lifetime warranty, you can trust that we’re committed to keeping your home squirrel-free for the long haul.  

Don’t Wait—Protect Your Home Today  

If you suspect squirrels have made your attic their home, the best time to act is now. The longer they’re left unchecked, the more damage they can cause. With Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, you don’t have to face these challenges alone. Our team of professionals is here to provide expert assessments and solutions tailored to your home.  

Call us today to schedule an inspection and take the first step toward restoring your attic. Together, we’ll ensure those noisy, unwelcome guests have skedaddled for good!